Game Day | TRA at VER

The Smoke Eaters open the 2025-26 season tonight in Vernon.

The Trail troupe hopes to start establishing themselves as road warriors as they play their first six games, nine of their first 10 and 14 of their first 18 games away from Cominco Arena while renovations continue.

The game will be the Smoke Eater debuts for Erik Pastro and Louis Jonerheim.

Pastro, a Vernon native, was acquired from the Vipers earlier this week and dons a Smokies uniform for the first time in front of family and friends. The 20-year-old centreman, who was the Vipers captain last season asked for a trade over the summer.

The deal saw the Smokies send forward Evan Sundar to the Vipers after the 20-year-old forward scored two goals and added two assists in last Friday’s 5-2 preseason win in Vernon.

Jonerheim joined the Smokies yesterday. The 6’4″, 205-lb power forward from Sweden had nine goals, 14 assists and 49 PIMS in 49 games last season with Malmo of the Swedish Junior league.

Meanwhile, another former Smokie is on the Vipers regular season roster.

19-year-old Deacon Drummond had five goals and four assists while appearing in 22 games last season.

The game also marks the return of former Viper, George Stavrianeas who was signed by Trail in the offseason. Stavrianeas started last season in Vernon, left for the NAHL and finished the season with the Penticton Vees.

The Smokies new captain Isaac Fecteau is also a former Viper, acquired by Trail at the 2023-24 trade deadline.

The Smokies have a veteran lineup with 15 players who are either returning or played last season in the BCHL or WHL.

The Vipers are hoping to turn around a difficult season that saw 57 different players in Vipers jerseys.

Trail was 2-3 in exhibition action, while the Vipers were 0-4.

It’s a 7 p.m. (PT) start with all the action on Mixlr and FloHockey.